Could Ohio’s Next Governor Be Democrat Jerry Springer?

If reality TV star Donald Trump defied the odds and political gravity to make it all the way to the White House, paving the way for another wealthy TV personality with a vast following to follow in his footsteps, might Jerry Springer be Ohio’s next governor?

A staunch Democrat who was the mayor of Cincinnati before he started hosting The Jerry Springer Show, a raunchy and sometimes violent day-time TV program that made him famous and widely wealthy, the idea of Jerry Springer running for higher office got a couple trial runs that didn’t end well. His first flop came in 1970 when he ran for Congress. His second one came in 1982, when he jumped into the race for Ohio governor and found that his most famous exploit at the time, writing a check to a hooker across the Ohio River in Kentucky, didn’t play all that well with voters.

But that was then, when decorum and propriety were prized possessionS. In today’s brave new world of Trumpism, his transgressions from years past might be his calling card. Donald Trump’s many transgressions with one women after another had little impact on his run for the White House. Whether the Donald engaged in out right adultery or merely popped a few Tic Tacs before kissing women and grabbing their private parts hardly seemed to matter, Trump was bullet proof on his many torrid issues, even though any other candidate doing the same would have fallen back to earth long ago.

Democrats have a good field of possible candidates for Ohio governor two years out, including well-known options like Congressman Tim Ryan and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau chief Richard Cordray, as well as former Representative Betty Sutton, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune and Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni.

Still, Jerry Springer stands out for several reasons.

The always insightful MediaInsider column in the Columbus Free Press put it this way on who should run for Ohio governor in 2018, “Don’t have $50 million? Don’t run for governor.” MediaInsider author John K. Hartman summed up the dilemma facing Democrats in two years when John Kasich leaves office, opening the contest to anyone who can raise the big bucks needed to win.

“This year’s election taught us that big money has taken over Ohio politics and that the news media’s role in influencing election outcomes has become insignificant,” Hartman, who holds a PhD in journalism but has since retired from teaching it after decades in the classroom, school us with his characteristic biting humor.

Hartman calculates that the only Democrat “connected to Ohio who has the kind of money to compete with the Republicans is talk show host Jerry Springer.” Hartman’s reasoning seems pretty sound. “Donald Trump showed that a well-heeled celebrity can overcome seemingly insurmountable baggage and win the presidency. Jerry for governor, anyone?”

This reporter caught up with Mr. Springer twice this year, once in Columbus and once in Philadelphia. Even though MSNBC used my video of Springer in Columbus without first asking permission, what he said was newsworthy. So was what he told me in Philadelphia at a Democratic breakfast.

It’s probably not outlandish to think that many in Springer’s TV audience, in studio and watching from somewhere else, voted for Donald Trump, if they voted at all.

He knows well his audience of white-working class folks who think they’ve been left behind. He also has the money to bankroll his run. He’s a master of the media, much like Trump is, so working for headlines is just a Tweet away for Springer, who happens to be far more likable than Trump was, is or will be.

And Plunderbund thinks Nina Turner and Jerry Springer are future stars of the OH Dem Party and can bring back the ODP from the brink of insignificance? Utter, complete nonsense. I can visualize all the anti- Springer and Turner ads the well financed state GOP will cook up for these 2 retread lefties. HC lost this state by 400000 votes, folks, and Plunderbund thinks these 2 can be the salvation of the party? Congressman Ryan and Cordray would have some degree of credibility with these 400000 trumpeters and indies- not a loud, angry Turner or a media clown like Springer…

Mark Allison

Ah, so a black woman who speaks strongly and confidently on issues of great importance to all of us is just “loud, angry”? Time to retire this racist canard.

Also anyone who tuned in to Springer’s old political radio show or to his current podcast would know he has tremendous depth on progressive issues. And he has media charisma the other candidates sorely lack.

Or we can just nominate another yawner with zero name recognition (outside of Democratic circle jerks) like Cordray or Ryan, both of whom are guaranteed to win Columbus, Cleveland, and Youngstown and lose all the rest of Ohio. And that’s against either Husted or DeWine.

#Springer2018

jr6020

Don’t play the race card with me. I not only voted for BO twice but volunteered time and money electing him. Just ask our opponents which of the 4 candidates you mentioned would be the easiest for them to beat in a general. You and I know the answer to that. The facts are Turner did run a lousy campaign for SOS (against Husted) and was crushed. You think it would be any different next time? She comes off angry and loud only because the videos are out there for all to see. And she showed no loyalty to HC after the convention. Springer will be 74 in 2 years and one has to ask if he has either the desire or energy to run a statewide campaign. I’ll take a “yawner” like Rich Cordray or Ryan any day- both have shown by actions strong support for organized labor and consumers. They sure as hell would make the DEMS much more competitive in a general. If you think otherwise, you are delusional…